the Brltijh Fuct, with particular Defer iptions of each Species. 229 



Habitat in ruplbus et faxis fub-marinis paflim. 



Radix From cartilaginea filiformis, teres, ramofifTima, 



purpurafcens vel flavefcens, dodrantalis, craffitie chordam muficam 

 minorem asquans, a bafi ufque ad apicem a:qualis — Rami confertif- 

 fimi, implicati, incurvi, fub-fecundi ; terminales conflaiiter dicho- 

 tomi — FruSiificatio, tubercula minutiflima ad latera ct ad apices ra- 

 morum atro-purpurea. 



This fpecies is fufficiently diftinguiflied from all its affinities by- 

 its numerous and thickly matted branches, which do not vary in 

 fize from the bafe to the extremities. The colour varies, purple 

 and waxen ; and frequently both are mixed in the fame plant. 

 The fubftance is cartilaginous and wiry, extremely brittle when 

 dry. 



The frudification, which was unknown to Gmelin, is defcribed 

 by Ligbtfoot as confifting in minute tubercles, growing without 

 order on the fides of the branches. We have, befides thefe, ob- 

 ferved the extremities of the branches dilated into fimilar tu- 

 bercles — both are fo fmall as fcarcely to be diftinguifhable with the 

 naked eye. The whole plant is diaphanous, except the tubercles 

 when filled with feeds. It is found on various parts of the Britifh 

 coaft, but is rarely met with in frudlification. 



72. FUCUS BYSSOIDES. 



Fronde fub-quadripinnata, ramis ramulifque omnibus alternis, 

 primariis longiffimis, ultimis breviffimis fafciculatis tenuif- 

 fimis. 

 Habitat inter rejectamenta maris in Infula Sheppey, apud 

 Haftings, Weymouth, Exmouth, et alibi — baud infrequens. 



R/idix fibrofa — Frons tenera diaphana, filiformis, ramofifllma, fub- 



quadri- 



